Twelve-hundred new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Iowa from Thursday to Friday. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health as of Friday, Iowa has had 60,698 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 1,091 people have died, and 45,907 people have recovered. The state’s recovery rate is almost 76%. On Thursday, Governor Kim Reynolds said antigen tests will be reflected in the state’s total figures.

She also announced the closure of bars in six counties where there’s been transmission of COVID-19 among people 19-24 years old, “We’re concerned that it will start to impact the staffing in our healthcare systems and potentially our schools. Workforce issues also pose a potential threat to our long term care facilities and other places that we have worked so hard to adjust to operating in the COVID-19 world. So, in addition to ensuring that our healthcare resources remain stable, we can’t forget the importance of doing everything we can to protect our most vulnerable Iowans. An increase in community spread regardless of how it occurs puts older adults and people with underlying health conditions at even greater risk. And with the start of the flu season not that far away, it is imperative that we implement some immediate steps to slow the spread among young adults in our state.” Those six counties are Johnson, Linn, Black Hawk, Story, Dallas, and Polk.

Reynolds said Iowans statewide should take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, and while encouraging the use of masks she did not mandate it, “Iowans hosting gatherings of more than 10 people must ensure that those attending maintain six feet of social distancing. Second, consistent with the recommendations of the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Board of Medicine, I am strongly encouraging all Iowans aged two and older to wear a mask or other face covering when in public settings. Especially, in circumstances when it’s not possible to remain six feet from others outside their households.” From Thursday to Friday, Washington County’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 jumped from 320 to 333, with 295 of those recovered. Eleven people in Washington County have died.

On Friday, Washington County and every contiguous county saw an increase in their 14-day positivity rates. Washington County’s rate was 3.7%, Johnson County 19.5%, Louisa County 5.8%, Henry County 14%, Jefferson County 7.1%, Keokuk County 8.1%, and Iowa County was 4.2% yesterday.